Process of producing gas.



WITNEEEEE J. H. HIRT. PROGESS 0F PRODUCING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.14, 1910.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WA TT URN 5% J. H. HIRT.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.14, 1910.

1,1 1,720 Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

I INVENTUR s A'rEs raran error...

JULES H. HIE-T, OF EL PASO, TEXAS, .A SSIG NOB, BY MESNE. ASSIGNMENTS, TO ALLIS CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CO RPORATION OF DELAWARE.

- PROCESS OF PRODUCING GAS.

Specification of Letters Yatent. Application filed February 14,1910.- Serial No. 543,726.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULES H. l-lnrr, a citi-- zen of the United States, residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Producing Gas, of which the following is a speclfica tion.

This invention relates to improvements in the process of making producer gas.

The object of the'invention is to produce a gas that is rich in carbon monoxid, by a continuous process, where the gas-forming combustible material is admitted at one part of the gas generating chamber and producer gas is removed from another part-of said chamber. The process provides for the proper reduction of the high temperature incident to the carrying out of the process.

'The accompanying drawings illustrate two forms of gas producer by means of which the process may be carried out. The

drawings will serve only to clearly ascertain the process and are not in any sense to be understood as limiting the process to either form of apparatus.

- In the drawings-Figure 1 is a central vertical section of one form of gas producer;

'Fig. 2 is a section of the producer shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 of said figure;

Fig. 3 is a central-vertical section of a modi-- fied form of gasprcducer; and Fig. l'is a transverse section of the producer of Fig. 3 taken on the line 44 of that figure.

Referring to the producer shown in Figs 1 and 2 of the drawing, the outer shell 1 is preferably circular and is somounted as to open up at the bottom into a water seal 10.

portion of the shell 1 is formed into two chambers 6, 5:, by an annular ledge 71 projecting inwardly from the shell 1. The chambers 6, 5,are annular in form'by reason of the location of tho-hollow columns 2 within the shell 1. An annular communicating passage 7 is formed between the. ledge 71 and the outside of column 2 and constitutes.

a centrallyxdisposed passage through which said column extends. A tangentially disposed -inlet 11 for gas-forming combustible material mixed with air is formed in the shell 1. near the bottom of chamber 5. Other tangentially disposed valve controlledinlets 12 arejpassed through the shell 1 near the top of chamber 5. Radial slag ports9 pierce the lower end of column 2 from the bottom of chamber 5. Poke holes 91 pierce the shell 1 so as to register with slag ports 9. These poke holes 91 will normally be closed 'by any convenient means not shown. The floor 8 of chamber 5 is slightly inclined with its lowest parts adjacent slag ports 9.

-; 'Referring tothe producer shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the shell '11() is closed at the bottom instead'of opening into a water seal, and the lower chamber therein isomitted. The column 21 is in thiscase solid and extends centrally up from the bot-- tom of the shell 110. The shell 110 is divided interiorly into two chambers. 31, 171, by an annular ledge projecting inwardly from the shell 110. A column 21 extends upwardlyto a point adjacent central opening 61 inthe annular ledge. The upper chamber 171 opens into off-take pipe 81 at the top. A tangentially disposed valved inlet 41 pierces shell 110 near the bottom of chamber 31. Other tangentially disposed inlets 51 pierce the shell 110 near the top of chamber 31. A slag'port 91 through shell 110 communicates with chamber 31 at the bottom thereof. A poke hole 911 also pierces shell 110 adjacent slag port 91.

Operation: Referring to the producer shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the. drawing, finely divided gas-forming combustible material is introduced under pressure through the inlet 11 into combustion chamber 5, sufiicient air to produce complete combustion being supplied until a high temperature is attained in the saidchamber. The volume of air admitted is then decreased in such degree that carbon dioxid ceases to be producedand the resultant gas is carbon monoxid at the temperature of incandescence. The highest temperature is attainedhn theupperpart of the combustion chamber- 5 and the gases and material swirl about column 2 within said chamber, and the resultant as orjgases pass through annular passage ,{and,' swirling about column 2 in chambe r f6, thence .pass downwardly. .throuigh ljc' olumng 2,. chamber. 3,

-desired for storage or use.

carbon monoxid, and methane or marsh gas. The formation of the marsh gas is made possible, or its decomposition is prevented by the introduction 0 the steam or other form of moisturen'or endothermic agent, un-

doubtedly due to the reduction of the temperature by its introduction. This is proven by the results of analyses disclosing that the gas produced contains a higher percentage of carbon monoxid and methane or marsh gas, and a smaller percentage of carbon dioxid than has heretofore been possible to obtain in a gas producer. The reduction of temperature of course serves to preserve the walls of the furnace from destruction by the high temperatures attained.

The central location of the annular passage 7 as compared with the major portionof the combustion chamber 5, together with the swirling of the combustible material and gases in the combustion chamber 5, prevent the passage of solid materials from the combustion chamber. This apparatus as dis-; closed herein is broadly claimed in applica-; tion N. 465,424, filed Nov. 30, 1908, and; specifically in application Serial No. 543,725,: filed Feb. 14, 1910. Any excess of such? solid material, and also the fused impurities and ash, pass through slag ports 9 and drop. in melted condition into the water in water seal'lO. Should there be any clogging of the} 'slag'ports. 9, this may be remedied by the in-' sertion of a poker through these ports by introd'ucing same-through poke holes 91 after opening the latter.

Referring't'o the producer shown in Figs? 3 and 4 of the drawing, finely divided gasforming combustible material and air are: introduced through inlet 41 producing a. swirl thereof in chamber 31 about central "column 21', are ignited in any convenient way, and complete combustion to carbon dioxid gas takes-place and heats the interior 'ofthe chamber 31 to a high temperature At this 'timethe-volume of air. is decreased 'in'such degree that carbon dioxid ceases to be produced and the resulting gas is carbon. monoxidin incandescent state. This passes through opening 61 to chamber 171 and thence through ofi-take pipe 81 toany pointfor storage or use. Into the upper part of' chamber '31 steam or other form of moistureor any other suitable endothermic agent is. admitted through inlets 51 serving the same fun'ctions'and producing similar results "to .thoselz'attained by the. admission" of steam&

through inlets 12 in the producer shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Excess solid combustible material fused impurities and ash are removed through slag ort 91 to v the exterior of the producer. Ioke hole 911 may be used for the introduction of a poker to break up slag andclear slag port 91. V

Actual test'has demonstrated that gas may be generated within fifteen minutes after starting the apparatus, and that two tons of finely divided material can be gasified in one hour. In the operation of either form of producer herein disclosed it will be seen that the process, the subject of this invention, is carried out. In other words, in either form of gas producer the mixture of gas-formin combustible material and air is ignited an is caused to swirl in the gas generating chamber, and is caused to contract at or near the point of discharge from the said chamher, and near this polnt of contraction moisignited mixture of gas-forming combustible material and air to swirl and to have an upward travel while in motion, causing all the outer upper portions of said swirling mixture to contract centripetally of the swirling mixture and subsequently taking oil gas for use.

3. In the art of producing gas, causing an ignited mixture of gas-forming combustible material and air to swirl and to have an upwardtravel while in motion, causing the upper portions of said swirling mixture to contract at a point adjacent the axis, of the swirling mixture, and reducing the temperature ofthe mixture near said point of contraction.

' 4'.- In theart of producinggas', causing an material and air to swirl and to have an upward travel while in motion, causing the upper portions of said swirlingmixture to move centripetally, and reducing the temperature of the upper portions of said mixture.

5. In the art of producing. gas, causing an ignited mixture of ga's-formin combustible material and air to swirl an to have an upward travel while in motion, causing the upper portions of said swirling mixture to ignited mixture of gas-formlng combustible travel while in motion, igniting the nuxture to form a as, separating the gas from the 10 solid partic es in the upper portions of said mixture hy causing substantially all of the gas to move centripetally, and removing the gas after segregation. Q!

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JULES H. HIRT.

Witnesses LEON E. Him,

C. CADENA. 

